Gonzaga coach Mark Few, middle, and BYU head coach Mark Pope, proper, look on throughout recreation in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. At Thursday’s WCC media day, Few stated including BYU to the convention is “one of many best issues we’ve performed as a league.” Younger Kwak, Related Press
Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett watches from the sideline throughout recreation towards Gonzaga in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Stated Bennett of BYU: “They gave us one other program that has loads of road cred in faculty basketball.” Jeff Chi, Related Press
LAS VEGAS — The BYU basketball program is about to embark on its West Coast Convention farewell tour.
For the Cougars, this marks their remaining season as members of the WCC earlier than becoming a member of the Massive 12 subsequent season.
“They’ve all the time been good they usually’ve all the time drawn nicely. They gave us a program that provides us nationwide recognition.” — Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett
At WCC media day Thursday at Orleans Enviornment, the league’s coaches and gamers reacted to BYU’s impending departure.
Definitely, the Cougars might be missed for quite a lot of causes.
Whereas BYU has but to win a WCC championship in its 11 seasons within the league, the Cougars have been extremely aggressive and have developed heated rivalries with Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.
Gonzaga star ahead Drew Timme needs to see the sequence with BYU proceed into the longer term.
“I feel it’s a particular rivalry. And one that ought to proceed even previous them leaving the convention,” he stated. “I feel it’s one thing that we should always do home-and-homes without end. … I really feel prefer it’s developed into such an amazing rivalry.”
Zags coach Mark Few appreciates BYU and what it has dropped at the league.
“I’m joyful for them. They discovered an amazing touchdown spot. That’s an amazing step for them for all their applications. However it’s been nice. Their impact on the league has been enormous. It’s one of many best issues we’ve performed as a league, including them within the 30-plus years I’ve been in it,” he stated. “They’ve been an amazing associate. They’re a nationwide program they usually act like a nationwide program. Their game-day is pretty much as good as anyone’s — and we’ve been all over the place.
“To expertise it, it's as big-time as anyone’s. It’s been a wholesome rivalry with some phenomenal video games with completely different characters concerned over time and extremely aggressive. I’m positive we’ll proceed to play in some vogue or kind shifting ahead.”
Whereas the WCC gave the Cougars a house for nearly all of their sports activities when the soccer program went impartial in 2011, BYU helped elevate the WCC’s nationwide profile, too.
“They’ve supplied quite a bit. They gave us one other program that has loads of road cred in faculty basketball. Individuals have recognized that program for many years, again when (Danny) Ainge performed,” stated Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett. “They’ve all the time been good they usually’ve all the time drawn nicely. They gave us a program that provides us nationwide recognition.
“That’s a faith, BYU. The entire faith follows that faculty. All people is aware of them. They usually’re good. And it’s an amazing environment to play at. In recruiting, we’ll promote that (and Gonzaga’s surroundings). These are two of the perfect within the nation so far as atmospheres.
“It additionally gave us a staff that may knock on the door yearly to get into the NCAA Match. So we’ll miss them. Our league might be tremendous. We had three groups in final yr and we may have had 4 with Santa Clara,” Bennett added. “BYU may have been in final yr, too. Our league is shifting in the proper path nonetheless.
“However to be sincere, I want they weren’t leaving due to the rivalry they supply, the joy in our league they supply. They’re straightforward to not like, in order that makes it enjoyable. ... It provides you a Quad 1 recreation yearly. It helps us do what we’re making an attempt to do — get into the NCAA Match.”
San Francisco guard Khalil Shabazz has had success towards BYU and he has loved the matchups.
“I really like taking part in towards BYU. It’s a love-hate relationship. The followers are hecklers or no matter. Simply going into that surroundings is all the time enjoyable. It’s an NBA area and an NBA surroundings so it’s all the time enjoyable taking part in there,” he stated. “With them leaving, they did what they’ve received to do. They felt prefer it was a call they wanted to make. I’m not upset; I’m not joyful about it.”
“I feel it’s going to be form of unhappy to see them go. It’s a recreation that it's a must to actually lock in for. It’s actually enjoyable to play there,” stated Saint Mary’s guard Logan Johnson. “It’s most likely one in every of my favourite locations to play within the WCC. Once they promote out that place, and it will get leaping in there, it’s an environment that you simply don’t get all over the place within the WCC. Seeing them go goes to be unhappy however it’s additionally an amazing alternative for them they usually’re college.”
Saint Mary’s ahead Kyle Bowen described the Marriott Heart this manner:
“Up in Utah, it’s the crucible up there. There’s not loads of air. It’s loads of screaming followers. We’re undoubtedly going to overlook these video games. Hopefully, we’ll have an amazing yr to complete off the rivalry after which we’ll want them the perfect for no matter’s subsequent.”
BYU coach Mark Pope, who was an assistant coach for the Cougars’ first season within the WCC in 2012, is grateful for the league offering a house for this system.
“It’s been tremendous essential. It’s an amazing league. It’s been an amazing league. Exterior the Energy 5, it’s one of many prime two leagues within the nation. That’s not a simple place to occupy. A whole lot of that's because of the success of the Zags and Saint Mary’s and us,” he stated. “And the remainder of the groups within the league are actually enjoyable.
“It’s been a terrific league and it’s getting higher yearly. … The league is rising. It’s been led from the highest however the backside is pushing the envelope proper now. It’s been an unimaginable residence. We’ve been actually, actually blessed to be within the WCC for the final decade, give or take a yr or two. We couldn’t be extra grateful for the chance we’ve needed to be right here.”
And, sure, Pope needs to maintain taking part in Gonzaga.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to play Gonzaga, it’s superior. On a private degree, coach Few has been so beneficiant and gracious to me as a coach making an attempt to determine this career,” he stated. “We love that recreation and we’d like to have that recreation proceed and discover house for it sooner or later — 100%. I’m unsure the Zags have a troublesome time getting video games on the schedule.”
Pope needs to proceed taking part in the Gaels sooner or later, too.
“I really like coach Bennett. He’s been so nice and he’s additionally been tremendous beneficiant to me,” he stated. “Our sequence with Saint Mary’s has been actually particular, too. It’s been knock-out, drag-out fights each time. It’s two unbelievable applications.”
For now, the Cougars get yet one more crack at Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga as convention rivals in what might be BYU’s WCC farewell tour.
Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett watches from the sideline throughout recreation towards Gonzaga in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Stated Bennett of BYU: “They gave us one other program that has loads of road cred in faculty basketball.”
Jeff Chi, Related Press